Effects of lightweight flywheel? [merged] light weight lightened aluminum ACT fidanza

[Fryguy]

All light weight flywheel newbie threads are merged here.

I'm looking for my car to be very fast at lower speeds; my main goal is very fast acceleration. Will a lightweight flywheel be beneficial to this? Or should I just save up all my money and drop a turbo on my 84k engine

 

[cmptrphreak]

I prefer the 8lb fidanza flywheel. Its given me great improvements on spool up times.

 

[VelocitàPaola]

I'd go with the Fidanza too, I've heard really great things about them. Made from tempered aluminum, they're supposed to be really light weight, but extremely strong as well.

 

[Crazyjoker777]

I havent actually tried the act one but my fidanza is great definatly one of the best mods you can do. It is built with top notch quality stuff and if you get it im sure you wont be dissapointed.

 

[leet]

I love my Fidanza. Makes it a beauty to shift. Check your tolerances though.

 

[99gst_racer]

I also love my Fidanza. And I've heard nothing but good things about the ACT flywheels. I'd recommend getting whichever is cheaper. You'll be happy with either one.

 

[JKGMotosports]

I have a fidenza and it really helped my spool and faster reving. I recently ordered a 2g 7 bolt FWD for a friend but he blew his motor and went with a 6 bolt. I have a brand new one I can sell for $245 shipped.

 

[Mitsu90GSX]

Ive heard reports of the fidanza flywheels being noisy...any truth to that?

 

[FORMONTOYA]

the fidenza is lighter, however i prefer the act. the aluminum is great for a 1/4 pass, but for me it does not work. there is to much difference in expansion rates between the aluminum and the hardened dowel pins that the 2 i have had the dowel pins backed out of an aluminum flywheel twice in the past (within a year after install), one being the eclipse about 3 years back. i currently have the act and have no problems. then again it could be my driving style...i am more autocross than 1/4 pass.


jim

 

[Quicklynx]

Hi, I would look into Unorthodox Racing Flywheels also, they are more expensive but my friend put one on his Lexus SC300 and loves it. I bought the Tuner S underdrive pulley kit from them for my 92 talon, and i was very very impressed with the quality, and gains of them. Other than that I've only heard good things about the ACT and Fidanza flywheels, so I'm sure both you will be more than happy with. I was so impressed with Unorthodox that i will, personally, be buying from them.

 

[ChiGGz]

I've been reading pages upon pages of arguments and I can't tell fact from fiction.

Fact: Your engine will rev quicker
Fact: RPMS will dip quick on gear changes (but do I need to do ninja shifting?)
Fact/Fiction: Turbo spool suffers from lightened flywheel due to lighter load


I'm running a PTE 50 trim and spool at around 3.8k. Even IF my turbo will take longer to spool, does the quicker rev engine make up for this?

Decisions, decisions

Thanks for your help

 

[K_Hill]

I would buy it.. That is just less rotational weight for the car to pull thus more horsepower to the wheels.

 

[GST with PSI]

I'm running a fidanza lightened aluminum flywheel and love it.

better throttle response.
smoother shifts.
clutch engages much quicker and firmer.

some of the differences i felt. good investment if you ask me.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FIDA...ryZ33732QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

just like the one i have.

by the way, the item i have supplied a link to is NOT my item and will in no way benefit from it's sale. for comparison purposes only. if you buy this particular one that's your business and none of mine (for the moderators).

 

[DGajre777]

Are you talking about a stock Lightened Flywheels? or Aluminum Flywheels??

If you are talking about aluminum flywheels, then here you go...

Aluminum flywheels, while made out of high strength aluminum, have a steel friction surface that can be replaced when you do your next clutch job. Typically they do not get resurfaced.
A stock flywheel weighs in at about 19 lbs. Our lightened stock ones are 14 to 14.5 lbs. That 5 lbs alone is enough to feel a difference. Aluminum flywheels weigh 9 lbs for DSMs. Now you are talking. You are using less power to spin the flywheel and now have more power available to move your car down the road.

Lots of people freak out about any "theoretical" negative drivability issues with lightened flywheels. They are wrong, it's all good. They are not too light for street use, they won't break apart, they are stepped correctly for ACT and CFDF clutches, On a 80 hp honda you could go too light, but not on anything with enough power to pull the skin off pudding. You will have to compensate a little in your launching technique, a little higher launch rpm will be necessary. Your shifts will be better with the engine rpm now better matching the next gear. These are SFI certified.

Source: RoadRaceEngineering, http://www.roadraceengineering.com/clutchandflywheeltech.htm

I say go for it!

 

[Jason84]

id go with the fidanza or ACT.. only real difference is the fidanza has a replaceable steel disc. which is nice.

also not has high of a chance as the flywheel blowing up and going through your hood and everything else in the way (reason lightened stock ones aernt good)

 

[fuzzyturtles]

I say go for it

 

[hewhoisknot]

If you do go for the lightened flywheel remember you need to have your clutch and your flywheel balanced before installation to avoid further hassle down the line. Just a word of caution. I have a fidanza flywheel in my car and it's pretty ok. I do not know why but the results were not as amazing as some of the other members on the board for me to gush and swear by it. The engine revs a little quicker, but nothing for me to get too ecxited about.

 

[hereitcomes]

its a lightwieght aluminum flywheel. go for it. you will notice a difference.

 

[LaN-]

Are you talking about a stock Lightened Flywheels? or Aluminum Flywheels??

If you are talking about aluminum flywheels, then here you go...

Aluminum flywheels, while made out of high strength aluminum, have a steel friction surface that can be replaced when you do your next clutch job. Typically they do not get resurfaced.
A stock flywheel weighs in at about 19 lbs. Our lightened stock ones are 14 to 14.5 lbs. That 5 lbs alone is enough to feel a difference. Aluminum flywheels weigh 9 lbs for DSMs. Now you are talking. You are using less power to spin the flywheel and now have more power available to move your car down the road.

Lots of people freak out about any "theoretical" negative drivability issues with lightened flywheels. They are wrong, it's all good. They are not too light for street use, they won't break apart, they are stepped correctly for ACT and CFDF clutches, On a 80 hp honda you could go too light, but not on anything with enough power to pull the skin off pudding. You will have to compensate a little in your launching technique, a little higher launch rpm will be necessary. Your shifts will be better with the engine rpm now better matching the next gear. These are SFI certified.

Source: RoadRaceEngineering, http://www.roadraceengineering.com/clutchandflywheeltech.htm

I say go for it!

Not to be over analyzing things but can we go into more detail about this. I mean DEEP, more everyone knows the better.

I will do a search for more info but just thought I'd throw the idea out there

 

[Vallary99]

I'm in the process of installing the ACT lighweight flywheel in my Eclipse. It's less turbo lag due to the fact that you rev quicker. Everyone I have talked to told me it was a good idea. I say go for it!

 

[ChiGGz]

Rev quicker yes, but isn't turbo load based. So with a lightened flywheel were looking at less of a load, quicker revs but also more turbo lag.

 

[99gst_racer]

Fact/Fiction: Turbo spool suffers from lightened flywheel due to lighter load

I would have to say no. The only turbo I have ever owned that I used with both flywheels (stock and the Fidanza) was my T25. It's not the best candidate to compare spool-up times with, but I noticed no difference in spool up with each flywheel. I now have a 50-trim and I get full spool (roughly 20psi) at 3800-4000 rpm's.

It really helps with shifting. Now that I'm used to a lightweight flywheel, I can't stand speed shifting cars that don't have them. It really helps with RPM matching when shifting (like what semi drivers do). I would definitely recommend one.

better throttle response.
smoother shifts.
clutch engages much quicker and firmer.

Agreed.

Lots of people freak out about any "theoretical" negative drivability issues with lightened flywheels. They are wrong, it's all good. They are not too light for street use, they won't break apart, they are stepped correctly for ACT and CFDF clutches, On a 80 hp honda you could go too light, but not on anything with enough power to pull the skin off pudding. You will have to compensate a little in your launching technique, a little higher launch rpm will be necessary. Your shifts will be better with the engine rpm now better matching the next gear.

This is some very good information. Many people do freak out about negative drivability issues, but honestly, there really are none. It is all theoretical. As with many other modification we make to our cars, you're style of driving might need slight modifications to adapt to the change. It will take you a day or two to get used to it, but you will like it.

Parking lot putting will not necessarily be difficult, but different. You will have to learn how to do it with the lightweight flywheel, but once you do, it's a piece of cake.

The benefit I like best about the lightweight flywheels is the RPM matching. It helps dramatically with driveability and it can greatly improve clutch life. The smoother shifting just makes it more fun to drive.

 

[ChiGGz]

Thanks all for their input

The benefit I like best about the lightweight flywheels is the RPM matching. It helps dramatically with driveability and it can greatly improve clutch life. The smoother shifting just makes it more fun to drive.

I may be a bit lost on what you mean by this exactly. From what I'm getting, is that because of the better throttle response, you can double clutch more easily. But isn't double clutching actually unnesessary (a FnF hype) with cars that have syncros?

 

[99gst_racer]

Thanks all for their input



I may be a bit lost on what you mean by this exactly. From what I'm getting, is that because of the better throttle response, you can double clutch more easily. But isn't double clutching actually unnesessary (a FnF hype) with cars that have syncros?

Yes, double clutching was something people did 40 years ago, but it doesn't benefit us now.

I'll try to explain what I mean by matching the RPM's.
When you ride a gear to 7K, and push the clutch in to shift, with a stock, heavy flywheel, the RPM's don't fall very fast at all. When you shift to the next gear and release the clutch, it grabs hard and pulls the RPM down hard to the bottom of the next gear. This can be hard on a clutch.

With a lightweight flywheel, it's different. When you ride the gear out and depress the clutch to shift, there is much less rotational mass and the RPM's begin to fall instantly. When you shift and release the clutch, the RPM's are right where they need to be. That makes for a very smooth shift and puts much less stress on the clutch.

Hopefully this makes some sense to you.

 

[da kang3]

thanks 99gst racer, i was curious about that also. i have a spec stage 3 clutch with a fidanza flywheel that i just got. i dont have my car back yet, but im so anxious. and that was a great explanation. if i could give out rep points, you would have just earned yourself one, or two, or three, or .......

 

[92GSXBaltimore]

i love my act streetlite(11.5 or 12 pounds i think). I felt a noticeable difference in the ass-ometer after the install. revs quicker, but you dont have to shift like a ninja, you just have to re-learn how to slip the clutch. your clutch will feel completely diff.